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Planning a budget trip to Greece? One of the best countries in Europe to visit if you’re short on cash, you’ll find a broad spectrum of cheap islands to visit in Greece! From the picture-perfect island of Paros and capital of the Cyclades—Syros—to Greece’s largest island, Crete, these are my 3 favorite Greek islands you can visit if you’re on a budget. Keep scrolling to read more!

3 Amazing and Cheap Greek Islands to Visit on a Budget | The Wanderful Me

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Greece is one of my favorite countries, not only because its culture, locals, food, and landscapes are amazing, but also because it can be incredibly affordable!

As someone who has traveled to ten Greek islands, I’m very familiar with how much the costs can vary between them! From the very expensive islands of Mykonos and Santorini to more affordable ones like Paros and Crete, you definitely have budget-friendly options when it comes to looking for cheap Greek islands.

So, if you’re planning an affordable trip to Greece, take a look at these three incredible islands that will help you save money and stay within your budget—without missing out on its beauty and culture!

Psst, when planning your trip to Greece, don’t forget to take a look at my blog on 25 important things to know before you go to Greece!

Picture-Perfect Paros

Paros is one of my favorite cheap Greek islands! In my opinion, it’s not only underrated but far less crowded, making really enjoyable to explore and experience.

That said, I did visit during shoulder season—late September/early October. I think this is the best time to visit Greece, as the summer crowd (and temperatures!) are good and gone.

Paros is a charming Cycladic island known for its whitewashed villages, golden beaches, and relaxed vibe. It’s perfect for those looking to enjoy traditional Greek life with a blend of vibrant nightlife and serene coastal views.

With picturesque towns like Naoussa—where I stayed—and Parikia (the main ferry port town), Paros offers a balanced mix of culture, beauty, and affordability.

Regarding the cost of visiting Paros, you can expect to spend around €80-130 per day if you’re on a budget. If you’re traveling with another person, the cost of accommodation will go down even further, as you can split the nightly rate.

Here’s a breakdown of accommodation, food, and transportation costs.

  • Accommodation: Paros offers a wide range of accommodations, from budget hostels to cozy guesthouses and mid-range hotels. You can find rooms at family-run guesthouses starting from around €40-€60 per night, while mid-range hotels are typically cost €80-€120 per night. High season may push prices up, but staying in less-touristy towns, like Naoussa, can be more economical.
  • Food: Greek tavernas are your best bet for affordable, authentic, and delicious meals. Meals at local tavernas typically cost between €10-€30 per person, and many places offer affordable mezze platters if you want to sample multiple dishes, like dolmades, skordalia, green beans, and fava dip (a personal favorite!).
  • Getting Around: Paros is small enough to explore by scooter or bus, which is inexpensive and convenient. The local bus system is reliable, with tickets costing around €2-€3 per trip, making it easy to travel between towns and popular beaches. If you want to rent a scooter or ATV, this costs around €20-90 per day, but this isn’t necessary if you want to save some money!

Personally, when I visited Paros, I spent around €80 per day for accommodation, food, and transportation. I was traveling with a friend, so we split the cost of our accommodation (which was €50 per night, so €25 per person).

For food, I’m a vegan, so my dishes were a bit cheaper than those with meat. Typically, I spent around €20-30 per day on food, including drinks (one or two beers or a glass of wine per night).

Most meals featured two or three of the following dishes: stewed chickpeas, dolmades, fava dip, green beans in tomato sauce, skordalia (garlic dip), and bread.

Additionally, we also rented an ATV for one day, which cost €90. This was a bit more expensive, as we rented the largest ATV, but it was totally worth it!

Need inspiration on how to plan an amazing Greece trip? If you’re visiting for one week, take a peek at my blog on 5 incredible one-week Greece itineraries!

The Cyclades Capital of Syros

Syros, just a short ferry ride away from Paros, is another beautiful and cheap Greek island that you need to add to your bucket list! Known as the capital of the Cyclades, Syros is colorful, affordable, and wildly under-visited, despite being so close to Mykonos.

I visited Syros at the beginning of October and it was truly magical! My friend and I stayed in Ermoupoli, the main city, which was fantastic. There were tons of restaurant and cafe options, local shops, a beautiful marina, and even a city beach that we sun bathed and swam at. It was perfect!

But the best part? Even though Syros is the capital of the Cyclades, it’s surprisingly budget-friendly! If you’re looking for a cheap island to visit in Greece, definitely consider Syros. You can expect to spend around €70-120 per day on accommodation, food, and drinks.

  • Accommodation: Prices for guesthouses and small hotels range from about €40-€70 per night, with even some seaside options available in this range. I recommend staying in Ermoupoli, the main town, where you can find unique boutique hotels starting around €70 per night.
  • Food: Syros has excellent local tavernas, with meals typically priced between €10-€15. Street food options like gyros are also very affordable at €3-€5 each. For fresh seafood, look to the small family-run places by the port.
  • Getting Around: Syros is easy to get around by bus or on foot in Ermoupoli. Bus fares are around €1.50-€2.50, making it affordable to travel to beaches and neighboring villages.

Personally, when I visited Syros, we spent €45 per night (~€23 per person) on a lovely little hotel situated in the middle of Ermoupoli. For meals, I ate a ton of fava bean dip, tomato balls, dolmades, stuffed tomatoes and peppers, and fried potatoes. Most dishes seem to cost between €5-10 per plate!

If you’re like most, your Greece trip will likely start in the vibrant capital of Athens! To help plan your visit, check out my guide on 13 amazing things to do in Athens and exploring the best ancient Greek ruins!

Captivating and Colorful Crete

Crete is the largest Greek island, so as you can imagine, there are a lot of places to visit! But with that comes a wide range of budget accommodation options, as well as affordable car rents, restaurants, and tours.

Crete is by far one of my favorite cheap Greek islands to visit! The landscape is beautiful and diverse, with an array of hills, gorges, mountains, and beaches (like the incredible Balos Beach!).

Not to mention, with it being so big, you can really escape the crowds and find little slices of heaven that you have all to yourself.

This photo is from mine and my husband’s one week trip to Crete! We explored Chania, Sougia, Loutro (pictured above).

Plus, the people are incredibly friendly, you can escape the crowds by going off the beaten path, and the variety of affordable resort options is amazing.

(My husband and I stayed in a stunning boutique hotel with our own private pool that only cost €185 per night. It was our honeymoon, so we splurged for a few nights—totally worth it!)

For more concrete prices, here’s what you can expect to spend on Crete with regards to accommodation, food, and transportation.

  • Accommodation: In smaller towns and villages, you can find rooms for as little as €20-€40 per night, while mid-range hotels in popular areas like Chania and Heraklion start from €60 per night. Prices increase in high season, especially around July and August.
  • Food: Crete is known for its hearty cuisine, and meals at local tavernas typically cost between €8-€15. You’ll also find plenty of bakeries with inexpensive and delicious local pastries, ideal for breakfast or a quick snack.
  • Getting Around: Crete’s size makes renting a car the most convenient option for exploring, and car rentals can be found for about €20-€30 per day in low season. If you’d prefer public transport, buses connect major towns and cities, with tickets costing around €3-€7 depending on the route.

Out of all the islands mentioned on this list of cheap Greek islands, I have found Crete to be the cheapest by far!

Even though Paros and Syros are by no means super pricey, unlike islands such as Mykonos and Santorini, where you can spend upwards of €1,000 per night on a hotel, you can find some really incredible deals on daily travel expenses.

Personally, aside from staying in the luxury boutique hotel mentioned above, we stayed near Chania, a vibrant city in the northeast of Crete. Our hotel near Chania, which we stayed at for four nights, cost €87 per night.

For food, I found local tavernas to be the best for prices and deliciousness! My vegan Greek meals typically cost around €5 for small plates and around €8-10 for main dishes, like briam (mixed roasted veg in a tomato sauce) and gemista (stuffed tomatoes and peppers). In other words, super affordable!

Other Cheap Greek Islands to Visit

Here are some other really wonderful and cheap Greek islands to consider! These have been recommended to me by others but I haven’t yet had an opportunity to visit them for myself.

(Aside from Naxos, which I visited on my two-week Greek island-hopping trip! It’s a beautiful, budget-friendly Greek island.)

  • Andros – Part of the Cyclades but less known than Mykonos or Santorini, Andros offers affordable stays and a quieter experience. More affordable hotels and local homestays seem to range between €40-70 per night.
  • Lefkada – Known for its breathtaking beaches and easy road access from the mainland, Lefkada is a more affordable option with plenty of budget accommodations.
  • Ios – While Ios has a reputation for lively nightlife, it’s also a great choice for budget travelers, especially outside of peak season, with affordable accommodations (like hostels) and restaurants.
  • Kefalonia – Known for its stunning beaches and picturesque villages, Kefalonia offers a good mix of budget accommodations and affordable dining options.
  • Naxos: Affordable Cycladic island with stunning beaches, charming villages, ancient ruins, and a mix of relaxation and culture—ideal for budget travelers.

I hope this guide on three cheap Greek islands helps you plan your trip here! If you have any questions or need some Greece travel advice, put them in the comments below. I try my best to respond to each comment I get!

Sophie xx

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